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A LETTER OF 

WILLIAM BRADFORD AND 

ISAAC ALLERTON, 1623 



EDITED BY 

R. G. MARSDEN 



REPRINTED FROM THE 



gimencan §ii^t0rial §mm 



Vol. Vlli No. 2 January 190? 



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/. A Letter of Williaiii Bradford and Isaac Allcrton, 162J. 

The following letter is amongst a mass of unarranged and un- 
calendarod papers in the Public Record Office in London, which 
were sent to that office from the Registry of the High Court of 
Admiralty. Its appearance in so unexpected a quarter is explained 
below. The original has been followed as closely as it is possible 
to follow in print a written letter. One or two contractions have 
been extended ; the punctuation has been altered in one or two 
places ; and the letters " v" and " u " have been interchanged ac- 
cording to modern usage. 

The Little Jatncs went out in 1623 with supplies for the Ply- 
mouth colony. On her return to England in 1624 she was sued in 
the High Court of Admiralty by Stevens and Fell, two of her crew, 
for their wages. The defense was that they had forfeited their 
wages by their mutinous conduct ; and, in the result, the claim was 
dismissed. The cause of discontent appears to have been that the 
Little /alius had a commission to capture ships, and that a French 
bank fisherman, who might have been captured on the outward 
voyage, was allowed to escape ; and, further, that after the ship 
arrived in New England she was ordered by Bradford to go upon a 
fishing voyage, which the crew objected to, alleging that they had 
been hired for a privateering and not for a fishing voyage. Brad- 
ford's letter given below was produced as evidence for the defense 
in the suit of Stevens and Fell c. The IJttle James. It is through- 
out in the handwriting of William Bradford — the writing of the 
well-known "Log" of the Mayflower. It has no address, but the 
context shows that it was sent to the adventurers in London. 
Annexed to it are two other letters, one from Emmanuel Altham, 
the captain or commander of the Little Jatncs, the other from John 
Bridg (or Bridge), her master. Both of these are addressed to 
James Sherley, the treasurer of the adventurers in Lontlon. The 
address of the former is almost illegible ; it appears to be as follows, 
but the words marked (?) are doubtful : 

"To the Worshipfull (?) and my most respected loving kind 
friend M'' Jeames Sherle Treasurer for the New Plimoth adventurers 
dwellinge on London bridg at the Golden hoospyte (?)." 

294 



295 DociDuctits 

V 

Bridge's letter, written from " Plemoth in New England" is 
dated 2^7th Sep., 1623, and is addressed : 

" To his aproved frend M' Jeames Sherlcy at liis house in 
Croked Lane in London." 

The Little James belonged to the adventurers, and upon her 
return to England she was taken possession of by Thomas Fletcher 
and Thomas GofTe under a decree of the Admiralty Court in pay- 
ment of a debt of ^250. 

R. G. Marsden. 

2 da' 

Beloved and kind freinds We have received your letters both by the .\nne 
and the James, which are botk safly arived here, thanks be to God, the 
Anne about the later end of July, and the James a fourthnight after, and 
by them a large and liberall suply, for which togeather with your loving 
and honest leters we give you harty thanks, being very sorie to hear of 
your losses and crosses, and how you have been turmoyled therabout. 
If God had seen it good we should have been right glad it had come 
sooner, both for our good and your jirofite ; for we have both been in a 
langwishing state ; and also faine to ]nit away our furrs at a small vallew 
to help us to smne necessaries, without which notwithstanding we should 
have done full ill, yea indeed could not have subsisted ; so as we have little 
or nothing to send you, for which we are not a litle sorie ; but if you 
knew how necessarily we were constrained too it, and how unwillingly 
we did it, we suppose you cannot at all blame us for it ; we put away as 
much at one time and other of bevaras, if they had been savid togeather 
and sould at the best hand, would have yeelded y or -j,- loo- pounds; 
and yet those are nothing to those we have lost for want of means to 
geather them when the time was, which I fear will scarce ever be againe, 
seeing the Duch on one side and the french on the other side and the 
fishermen and other plantations betweene both have, and doe furnish the 
savages, not with toyes and trifles, but with good and substantial cmod- 
ities,^ as ketkes, hatchets, and clothes of all sorts ; yea the french doe 
store them with biskay shalopes fited both with sails and ores, with which 
they can either row or saile as well as we ; as also with peices powder 
and shot for fowling and other servises; (we are informed that ther are 
at this present a • 100 • men with ■ S • shalops coming from the eastward, 
to robe and spoyle their neighbours westwards) ; also 1 know upon my 
owne knowledg many of the endeans to be as well furnished with good 
ketkles, both strong and of a large size, as many farmers in england ; yet 
notwithstand we shall not nectlect to use the best means we can with the 
pinnas and means we now have, both for trading or any other imploy- 
ment the best we can for both your and our advantage ; but we are sorie 
that shee is maned with so rude a crew of sailors ; we ho|)c the maister is 

' Secuntla. This wonl in the maigiii of ilic original indicates that a duplicale was 
sent by another ship. 
' Sic. 



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A Letter of William Bradford a>id /saac Allerton 296 

an honest man ; and we find the capten to be a loving and courteous gen- 
tle-man ; yet they could not both of them rule them, so as we were 
faine to alter their conditions and agree with them for wages as well as 
we could ; and this we did not only by the capten, and maisters, together 
with M' peirces advice, but we saw we were of necessitie constrained 
thereunto to prevente furder mischefe, which we saw would unavoyd- 
ably ensew ; for besides the endangering of the ship, they would obey no 
command, at least without continual! murmuring, aleging that they were 
cousened and deseaved and should saile and work for nothing, the which 
they would be hanged rather than they would doe, as also that they would 
not fish, or doe any such thing ; they said they were filed out for a taker, 
and were tould that they might take any ship what soever that was not 
to strong for them, as far as the west endeans, and no other imployment 
would they follow ; but we doubt not now to have them at a better pass, 
and hope to raise some benefite by her imploymente ; shee is now 
to go to the southward ; we have sent to the Indeans, and they promise 
us we shall have both come and skines ; at her returne we think to 
send her northward, both to fish and truck, if it please God to bless 
them. 

We have sent unto you (with these our letters) one of our honest 
freinds, Edward Winslow by name, who can give you beter and more 
large Information of the state of all things than we can possiblie doe by 
our letters ; unto whom we refferr you in all partickulars ; and also we 
have given him Instrucktion to treat with you of all such things as con- 
sceirn our publick good and mutuall concord ; expecting his returne by 
the first fishing shipss. 

We have write to the counsell for an other patente for cape Anne to 
weet for the westerside of it, which we know to be as good a harbore as 
any in this land, and is thought to be as good fishing place ; and seeing 
fishing must be the cheefe, if not the only means to doe us good ; and 
it is like to be so fite a place, and lyeth so neer us ; we thinke it verie 
necessarie to use all diligence to. procure it ; and therfore we have now 
write unto you and the counsell againe about it, least our former letters 
should not be come, or not delivered, of which we have some suspition ; 
M'' Weston hath writen for it, and is desirous to get it before us ; and 
the like doth ISP Thomson ; which is one spetiall motive that hath 
moved us to send over this messenger fore named ; as allso about that 
grand patent which we understand you have gott from M' peirce, which 
if it be as we have it is by M' Thomsons relation, but to goe by a right 
line from the Gurnatsnose due west into the land a certain way, and noe 
furder north-ward, it will stripe us of the best part of the bay, which will 
be most comodious for us, and better then all the rest ; therefore seeing 
now is the time to helpe these things we thought it were then necessarie 
to send aboute the former patente for cape Anne ; we desire it may be 
procured with as am|)le privileges as it may, and not to be simplie con- 
fined to that place, but in our liberty to take any other, if we like ic 
better. 



297 Documents 

M'peirce' (for ought I hear) hath used our passengers well, and 
dealt very honestly with us ; but we wanted a perfect bill of lading, 
to call for ech parcell of our goods, which as you have occation we 
pray you see toe hereafter, for it is very requisite though you have to 
deale with honest men. we have agreed with him to lade him back for 
a ■ 150 • pounds, which you will thinke something much, but we could 
gett him no cheaper; we did it the rather that he might come directly 
home, for the furderance of our other aftares ; as also for some other 
respects necessarie and benefitiall for us ; we have laded him with clap- 
board,^ the best we could gett, which we hope at the least will quite the 
cost ; for lengths they are not cut by the advice of the Cooper and pipe- 
stafmaker which you sent us ; for thicknes they are biger than those 
which come frome other places, which must accordingly be considered in 
the prices ; the cooper of the ship saith they are worth ■ 5 • per • 100 • 
and I here he means to bye some of them of you ; of which I thought 
good to give you notice. 

We have also sent you that small parcell of furres which we have left, 
besides those we put away formerly ; if the ship had but come one month 
sooner, we had sent you a good many more, though since that consjiiracie 
raised against us by the Indeans, caused by M' Westons people, and that 
execution we did at the Massachusets, cheefly for the saving of their lives, 
we have been much endamaged in our trad, for ther wher we had most 
skins the Indeans are rune away from their habitations, and sett no come, 
so as we can by no means as yet come to speake with them, we have 
taken up of M' peirce sundrie provissions, the cheefe wherof is bread, and 
course cloth, and some other needfuU things withall ; and with them he 
hath ]jut upon us some other things less necessarie, as beefe etc. which we 
would not have had if we could have had the other without theni ; fear of 
want againe before suply coiue to us, as also a litle to encourag our jjeo- 
plf after ther great dishartening hath made us pressunie to charg you 
herewith : a bill of the pertickulars we have here sent you ; we hope the 
/urres will defray it. 

It is for certain that great jirofite is here raised by fishing ; theshipes 
have this year made great viages, and were a great many of them ; ' and 
if we could fall once into the right cource about it, and be able to man- 
age it, it would make good all ; a good fishing place will be a great 
advantage for it, wher the boats may goe (i.uickly in and out to sea at all 
times of the tide, and well stoed with fish neer at hand, and convenient 
places to make it, and build stages in, and then it will not only serve for 

' Ali'^ut 14. days after came in (his ship, caled the Anne, whereof M' William 
Peirce was m.', and aboute a weeke or 10. days afier came in the pina.ss which in foule 
wcailicr thev ost at sea, a fine new vcssell of aboute 44. tune, which the company had 
built to Slay in the cunlri. Ilnt'iy " of I'limolli Plniilnlioii " (l8q8). 171. 

*This ship was in a shone lime laden with clapboard, by the help of many hands. 
Also ihey sente in her all the beaver and other furrs ihey had, and M' Winslow was sent 
»er with her, lo enforme of all things, and procure such things as were thought need- 
-full for tlieir presenle condition, /in/., 177. 

' thus, in the original, possibly some words were omitted. 



A Letter of William Bradford and Isaac Alter ton 298 

our owne fishing, but after it be known once by ex])erience to be a place 
well qiiallified for that purpose, benefite will be made of it by granting 
licence to others to fish ther. But about these things we referr you for 
furder information to our messenger and M! peirce, who is a man as we 
perceive very skillful and diligent in his bussines, and a very honest 
man, whose imployments may doe us much good ; and if you resolve, as 
we ernisly desire you may, of any course aboute fishing we think he is as 
fite an Instrument as you can use. 

It would be a principall stay and a comfortable help to the Colonic 
if they had some catle, in many respects, first it would much encourage 
them, and be in time a gretter ease both for tillage of ground, and cariag of 
burden ; 2ly, it will make victuals both more plentiful!, and comfortable ; 
3!y, it might be a good benefite after some encrease that they might be 
able to spare some to others that should have thoughts this way ; espetialy 
goats are very useful for the first, and very fite for this place, for they 
will here thrive very well, are a hardly creature, and live at no charge, 
ether wenter or sommer, their increas is great and milke very good, and 
need little looking toe ; also they are much more easily transported and 
with less difiiculty and hassard, then other kattle ; yet tow of those which 
came last dyed by the way, but it was by some neclegence. for kine 
and other catle it will be best when any comes that it be in the spring, 
for if they should come against the winter, they would goe near to dye ; 
the Colonic will never be in good estate till they have some. 

.\s touching making of salte we have by accedente had speech with 
one of the north cuntrie, who came with M' Reinolds (who put in here), 
and was his mate ; he had speech with our smith aboute the making of 
salt pane, he douts he cannot doe it ; also he saith if they goe about it 
that have no skill they will quickly burne the pans and doe no good, 
wheras if they be skillfully ordered they may last a long time, he thought 
wc might have some frorne about new-rastlc that would best fite our 
tourne for that bussines we pray you provide for us here about as soone 
as you can, that wc may doe some thing to the purpose. 

M'' Westons colonic is desolvd (as you cannot but hear before this 
time), they had by their evill and deboyst cariage so exasperated the 
Indeans against them as they ploted ther overthrow ; and because they 
knew not how to effecte it for fear we would revenge it upon them, they 
secretly Instigated other peoples to conspire against us also, thinking to 
cut of our shalope abroad and then to assalte us with their force at home, 
but ther conspiracie and trecherie was discovered unto us by iMassacoyte, 
(the occation and furder relation wherof our messenger can declare unto 
you at large, to whom we referr you'), we went to reskew the lives of 
our countric-men, whom we thought (both by nature, and conscience) 
we were bound to deliver, as also to take vengance of them for their vil- 
lanie entended and determened against us, which never did them harme, 
weaiting only for opertunite to execute the same, but by the good provi- 
dence of god they were taken in their owne snare, and ther wickednes 
came upon their owne pate ; we kild seven of the cheife of them, and 



299 Documents 

the head of one of them stands still on our forte for a terror unto others ; 
they niett our men in the feild and shoat at them, but thank be to god 
not a man of them were hurte ; neither could they hurte the Indeans 
with their peices, they did so shilter them selves behind great trees, only 
they brake the arm of a notable rogue as he was drawing his bow 'o 
shoot at capten standish, after which they came away, we gave the 
capten ordere, if W Westons people would, that he should bring them 
to us and we would aford them the Ijest secoure we could, or if they 
chose reather to goe to Monhegin, that then if he tooke any corne from 
the Indeans, he should let them have to victuMll them thither (which 
accordingly was done, though ours had scarce enoughe to bring them 
home againe). yet for ail this, and much more [the]y cannot afford us 
a good word but reproach us behind our backes. 

Touching our governemenle you are mistaken if you think w^e admite 
weomen and children to have to doe in the same, for they are excluded, 
as both reason and nature teacheth they should be ; neither doe we 
admite any but such as are above the age of ■ 2 1 • years, and they also but 
only in some weighty maters, when we thinke good ; yet we like well 
of your course, and advice propounded unto us, and will as soon as we 
can with convenience bring it into practice, though it should be well it 
were so ordered in our patent. 

Now wheras you think we have been to credulous in receiving in- 
sinuations against you, and to rash in complaining and censoring of 
you ; as allso that to pertickular men letters have been writen not with 
that descr[e]tion and deliberation which was meet, we answare what 
others have writen we know not, neither could hinder ; if ther be any 
thing otherwise then well lett them beare their blame ; only what we 
have writen we best know, and can answer, and first we wishte you 
would either roundly suply us, or els wholy forsake us, that we might 
know what to doe ; this you call a short and peremptorie resolution, 
be it as it will, we were necesarily occationed by our wants (and the 
discontents of many) therunto. yet it was never our jjurpose or once 
came into our minds to enter upon any cource before we knew what you 
would doe, upon an equall treaty of things, according to our former, as 
we conceivd, bonds between us. And then if you should have left us we 
mente not to joyne with any other (as you it should seeme conceived) 
but thought we could get our selves foode, and for cloathes we Intended 
to take the best course we could, and so to use the best means we could 
to subsiste, or otherwise to retume. though Indeed we thinke jf you had 
left us we might have had others desirous to joyne with us. also you 
may conceive some of us have had enough to doe to hould things togeather 
amongst men of so many humors, under so many dificulties, and feares 
of many kinds ; and if any thing more hath been said or writen to any 
by us, it hath been only to shew that it might rather be marvilled that 
we could at all subsist, then that we were in no better case haveing been 
so long without suplie, and not at all for your disgrace. If necessity or 
pation have caried others furder, your wisdoms will (I doute not) beare 



A Letter of William Bradfoj-d and Isaac Allerton 300 

with it. as for capten standish we leave him to answare tor him selfe ; 
but this we must say, he is an helpfull an Instrument as any we have, 
and ascarfuU of the general! good, and doth not well aprove him selfe. 

Indeed freinds it doth us [mucjh good to read your honest letters. 
we perceive your honest minds, and how squarly you deal in ail things, 
which giveth us much comforte, and howsoever things have been for time 
past, we doubt not for time to come but ther shall be that good coras- 
pondance which is meete. and we shall labore what we can to be answar- 
able to your kindnes and cost. 

for our freinds in holand we much desired their conipanie, and have 
longe expected the same ; if we had had them in the stead of some 
others we are perswaded things would have been better then they are 
with us, for honest men will ever doe their best endeavoure, whilst others 
(though they be more able of body) will scarce by any means be brought 
too ; but we know many of them to be better able, either for laboure or 
counsell then our selves ; And indeed if they should not come to us, we 
would not stay [her]e, if we might gaine never so much welith, but we 
are glad to take knowledge of what you would write touch [ing] them, 
and like well of your purpose not to make the generall body biggere, 
save only to furnish them with usefuU members, for spetiall faculties. 

Touching those articles of agreement, we have taken our selves bound 
by them unto you, and you unto us, being by M' Weston much pressed 
ther unto, we gave M' Cochman full Commission to conclude and confirme 
the same with you. for any thing furder ther aboute we referr you to 
our messenger ; though in any bound made, or to be made between you 
and us, we take our freinds at Leyden to be comprehended in the same, 
and as much interese[d] as our selves ; and their conssents to be accord- 
ingly had ; for though we be come first to this place, yet they are as 
principalle in the acction and they and we to be considred as one body. 

We found the chirugion in the pinas to be so proude and quarelsome 
a man, and to use his ternies in that sorte, as the Capten and others durst 
not goe to sea with him ; being over ready to raise factions and mutanie 
in the shipe; so as we were constrained to dismise him, and hire M' 
Rogers in his roome, M' Peirce being willing to releace him, to doe us a 
favore. he is to have ' 35 ' s ■ per mouth, wherof he desers his wife 
may have ■ 16 ■ s a month, which we pray you may be accordingly per- 
formed. 

About Hobkins and his men we are come to this isew. the men we 
retaine in the generall according to his resignation and equietie of the 
thinge. and about that recconing of • 20 ' ode pounds, we have brought 
it to this pass, he is to have • 6 • "• payed by you ther, and the rest to be 
quite ; it is for nails and shuch other things as we have had of his brother 
here for the companies use, and upon promise of paymente by us, we 
desire you will accordingly doe it. 

for the tokens of your love and other the charges you have been at 
with my selfe befitt ' you many thanks, (and so doe they 

' A hole in the paper. 



30 1 Documents 

likewise) not knowing how to recompence your kindnes. it is more 
then we have deser\ed at your hands. 

Touching those which came unto us in ther pertickuUir, we have re- 
ceived them in as kindly maner as we could, according to our abilite, 
and offered them as favorable termes as we could touching their footing 
with us. yett they are sundrie of them discouraged I know not whether 
by the countrie (of which they have no triall) or rather for want of those 
varietis which England affords, from which they are not yet wayned, 
and being so delitefuU to nature cannot easily be forgotten without a 
former grounded r[esolu]tion. but as they were welcome when they 
came, [so shjall they be when they goe, if they thinke it not for their 
g[oo]d, though we are most glad of honest mens companie ; and loath 
to part from the same. 

Thus againe giveing you hartie thanks for your loveing affections and 
large hands extended unto us, we rest your loving freinds to use, 

VViLLi.AM Bradfokd, Governor 
Plimoth Isaac Allerton, Assistant 

September 8 
1623 



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